Why is soup such a favorite comfort food: Its power to soothe the diner? Its ability to calm the cook? Unlike many dishes, most soups don’t require constant vigilance. Recipes are seldom fussy, they invite improvisation, and substitutions are generally welcome. You can stir up a soup while answering homework questions or sorting the mail, and if someone’s late for dinner, soup doesn’t mind the wait. Here are six quick soups we turn to for comfort on a weeknight
By Jo Marshall, a food writer in Deephaven, Minn.